Cytocompatibility antibacterial and corrosion assessment for surface modified az31 magnesium implants orthopaedic implant

Abstract

Orthopaedic implant materials are divided into two types depending on the usage time of the implant in the human body as (i) long-term implant material and (ii) transient implant material. Metallic materials (316L SS, Titanium and its alloys, CoCr alloy) are widely used for treating bone-related damages or defects for long-term applications due to their biocompatibility and mechanical strength. In real-time applications, the materials used for long term application is employed for short-term applications too. In spite of the healing ability to the damaged parts, their sustained stay in the body causes various harmful effects to the body including inflammation and hypoxia. Hence, the development and usage of the implant material should be more specific to its application. Among the various available materials, Mg has drawn the attention because of their similar density (1.74 g/cm2 ) and Young s modulus to that of the bone. Mg implant material corrodes the physiological solution which can be utilized by the body for various metabolic functions including ATP synthesis, bone formation and maintenance and acts as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions. The excess of Mg can be easily eliminated through urine. Hence, the possibility of hyper-magnesia condition can be eliminated. Moreover, there is no need for revision surgery due to its biodegradability in biological fluids. In spite of its benefits, Mg and its alloys are prone to rapid corrosion in the aqueous environment due to their higher electrode potential of ~ -2.3 V. Mg interaction with the physiological fluid leads to the formation of Mg(OH)2 and hydrogen newline